Guitar World Verdict
There's a new brand in town and it's dished out one of the best budget metal machines we've come across in a while, hitting well above its weight in terms of value.
Pros
- +
Superb build-quality for the price.
- +
Excellent value for players of all levels.
- +
Not just for metallers.
Cons
- -
The nut is too sharp.
- -
Only one finish option.
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What is it?
You‘d be forgiven for never hearing of the brand, Spira, before, but we have a feeling that is about to change. Coming from the same stable as JET guitars, all the offerings from Spira look to be set up for one job - metal! And just like its stablemate, it’s doing that job at some eye-wateringly low prices.
Our test guitar comes from the 450 range, which roughly sits in the middle of Spira’s current lineup of electric guitars in terms of price. This T-450 TDB is a slightly spikier silhouette than your average T-style guitar, making sure there’s no ambiguity as to where its strengths lie. If you’re looking for something a little more S-shaped, then check out our sister site, MusicRadar, and its review of the Spira S-450 TPP.
The T-450 is carved from roasted poplar with a flamed maple top in transparent blue finish that perfectly complements the roasted maple neck and fretboard. The rest of the guitar is equipped with proprietary Villain ceramic humbuckers, locking tuners and a fixed bridge. If you’re looking for a bridge with a bit more float, then check out the 420 range with locking tremolos.
Specs
- Launch price: £329/€419
- Made: China
- Type: Six-string electric guitar
- Body: Poplar/Quilted maple top
- Neck: Canadian roasted maple/Modern D
- Fingerboard: Roasted maple
- Scale length: 25.5"/647.7mm
- Nut/width: Artificial bone/43mm
- Frets: 24/Jumbo
- Hardware: Spira locking tuners, fixed bridge
- String spacing at bridge: 50mm/1.9"
- Electrics: HH Spira Villain ceramic humbuckers, Volume, Tone, 3-way switch
- Weight: 7lb 6oz
- Left-handed options: No
- Finishes: Trans Blue only
- Case: No
- Contact: Spira Guitars
Build quality
Build quality rating: ★★★★½
The quality of the finish is to a high standard
You could be forgiven for doing a double-take when you see the price of these Spira guitars, especially after seeing one in the flesh/grain for the first time. The quality of the finish is to a high standard, all hardware is correctly positioned with nothing out of place, there’s no misaligned paint or dodgy routing here, it’s all smooth lines and finish.
I had no qualms with the setup, either. The action is low, but not too low that you can’t give the strings a real good thrashing. I didn’t even check to see what tuning the T-450 arrived in as I’m so used to dropping it down after unwrapping a guitar, before returning to standard later. Going down to a drop B tuning, the action didn’t suffer too badly, though obviously I would probably need a larger string gauge in the longer term for such preferences.
The addition of locking tuners at this price point used to be mind-blowing and it sort of still is to a certain extent, but we’re seeing it more and more. It wouldn’t surprise me if they become a staple at all price points before too long. Spira’s own-brand efforts here are solid, but I didn’t find tuning them to be as precise as other, pricier models reviewed of late.
In the interests of balance, it’s not all rosy, as there’s one quite annoying issue with the artificial bone nut. The edges are just too damn sharp. The first time I encountered it during testing, I really thought I drew blood; it was that sharp. Clearly, I was overreacting, as even the swiftest of slides down to the first fret wouldn’t actually cause that much damage, but it is as annoying as it was painful. I’d say you’d get used to it over time, but maybe a very careful filing wouldn’t go amiss?
Playability
Playability rating: ★★★★½
Everything is well-dressed, buttery smooth and comfortable on the neck side here
The sharpness of the nut is really noticeable when chugging your way around the first fret, and while it may be bearable over time, it does play on the mind a bit. This is the only misgiving I have over the T-450's playability, though. You’d be forgiven for thinking that the fret edges would also be protruding, but not so. Everything is well-dressed, buttery smooth and comfortable on the neck side here.
The satin finish on the neck delivers instant palm speed and the combination of the modern D-shape and relatively flat radius (14”) allows you to glide effortlessly up and down the ‘board. Elsewhere, the jumbo frets add to the guitar’s all-around comfort and dependability.
Sounds
Sounds rating: ★★★★½
The own-brand Villain humbuckers deliver some crushing clarity in the bridge, which is pleasingly offset by a mellower neck pickup. For metallers, they don’t offer anything new, sonically, but for the price, they are unbelievably good. The combination of the Villain ‘buckers and installed lighter string gauge delivers a very strong mid presence that cuts through a mix with ease. As I mentioned earlier, I think you could beef things up a little bit more with some bigger strings.
All of the guitars in the 450 range come with a branded string dampener, which is a nice touch. And yes, they really do work in reducing sympathetic harmonic resonance. This version isn’t as chunky as some aftermarket options we’ve come across in the past, which is a good thing, in my book. It still does the job without looking out of place, although it’s a tad fiddly to fit after you’ve changed strings.
Verdict
There is only one finish available for the T in the 450 range, which is a shame as you’ve got plenty of choice in the super-S-style stakes. There are three more finishes in the 400 and 420 ranges, but the spec is different. Spira is also offering 7-string variants in other shapes, but not the T. Let’s hope that’s something we’ll see in the future.
I’ve grown rather fond of the body shape, the T-450 cuts quite the modern silhouette – and a reverse headstock is a welcome twist on the formula for me – but there was something else intriguing me about Spira’s take on the Tele. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it at first, but then it clicked: it looks as though the top half of the body shape is a T-style and the bottom half an S-style. That sounds like it shouldn’t work, but I like it.
Quite how the Slovenian brand is packing so much value into such a low price-point is anyone’s guess. One of its closest rivals would be Harley Benton but with the two 450 series guitars I've tried so far, the Spira lineup bodes well. Guitarists have never had it so good when it comes to value.
For players starting out, I think Spira guitars look to be a good investment in longevity
The sonics are perfectly adequate in the high-gain stakes, and the Spira Villain humbuckers do a sterling job, but they’re not quite as high-output as something like your classic Seymour Duncan JB/59 pairing, for example. Although, to be fair, there’s not much in it. If I were thinking of modding this guitar further down the line, the pickups would probably be my second port of call (after sorting that nut).
Despite its clear remit as a metallers’ axe, the T-450 can easily turn its hand to other, less gainsome genres, which I feel will further increase its potential desirability. For players starting out, I think Spira guitars look to be a good investment in longevity. You definitely won't be outgrowing it too soon.
The finish, build quality and set-up are backed up by a versatile sound that makes this more than just a metal machine, and I would have no qualms in taking one out for gigs, fresh out of the box, either (minor tweaks notwithstanding).
Test | Results | Score |
|---|---|---|
Build quality | Solid all-around build with quality own-brand hardware, but the nut is too sharp. | ★★★★½ |
Playability | A smooth, rapid neck and an action that invites much riffage | ★★★★½ |
Sounds | Proprietary humbuckers more than do the business., an excellent performance at the price. | ★★★★½ |
Overall | Fantastic spec for the money. It performs as well as some guitars at twice the price. | ★★★★½ |
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